The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) just approved the following motion as brought forward by the British Columbia Medical Association (BCMA): “The Canadian Medical Association advocates for a ban on Mixed Martial Arts prize fighting matches in Canada.”

The motion was supported by 84% of the assembly. 15% abstained and 1% voted against the motion.

Prior to this vote, a motion to refer the motion to the Board was defeated by 62% of the assembly.

Check out my personal Blog for more details on this story and a history of the proposed ban.

I have been working for almost a year with politicians and MMA organizations to make this a reality.  I believe that before the end of the year the City of Vancouver will allow MMA and that within the next two year the Province of British Columbia – upon seeing the tax revenue which can be gained – will take over this sanctioning.

FYI – I take a nice shot at Coldplay around the 10 minute mark – just because that is funny to me.

Here is the edited 30 minute segment with phone calls.

I did not follow some basic rules of etiquette and my using technology was as welcome as firing up a chainsaw at a baptism.

A few weeks ago I was in an all day meeting with about 40 other people for a non-profit I have worked with for years.  I have the utmost respect and interest in this group which is why I was concerned that I was labeled as “playing with my phone”, “texting during the meeting” and not “paying attention”.

While I did do some email checking and texting (multitasking – including sending a Tweet about how awesome one of the speakers was) on my hand held, I also Googled an answer to a laptop hardware problem when one of the presenters could not get her PowerPoint presentation going, typed in my meeting notes so I could share with others, searched for another answer to the question one of the presenters had – “did someone named Terry make the 1984 US Men’s Olympic Marathon Team” (answer – no) and took photos.

With the negative feedback I received, this struck me as a learning opportunity for both the techy and non-techy folks in our world.  So, here are my five points for each of these two distinct cultural groups.

Techys – 5 Tips For You

1.  Just because you have / use / understand how technology works does not mean you should be using your favourite toys during the entire meeting.  Give your thumbs / fingers a rest.

2. Educate those around you as to what you are doing and how and why you are using technology to make your life easier.  Speak in terms of “features and benefits” as opposed to “coolness and hardware specs”.  Keep the nerd talk to a minimum.

3. Is it appropriate to use your laptop / hand held / etc. in the particular meeting?  If there are lots of stats, interesting points, etc. then most likely using technology is fine.  If it is during a video tribute for someone who is widely known and respected at the meeting – and just for fun, let’s add in that this person has died – then techy is not the way to go.

4. Offer to share your techy items with the non-techy if their not using technology may limit their ability to be effective.

5. Don’t be jerk about your love for technology.

Non-Techys – 5 Tips For You

1.  Just because you do not have / use / understand how technology works does not mean the items are evil or a time waste.

2. You see someone using a piece of technology which is foreign to you ask him / her as to what they are doing and how and why they use technology to make their life easier.  Ask about “features and benefits” and do not be afraid to ask the person to re-phrase if you do not understand.

3. Is it appropriate to use your pen / paper / etc. in the particular meeting?  If there are just a few quick notes, then most likely using the reliable pen and paper is fine.  If you are going to have to share the information on masse or perhaps a simple photo would speak volumes then most likely using technology would be better.

4. Offer to share your pen / paper with the techy if their using technology is inappropriate.

5. Don’t be a jerk about your distaste for technology.

Oh, there is a sixth one for the techy folks. If you have made a bad impression with folks you respect, work to correct that impression.  It’s worth it.

According to the write up at Dave.ca, my company provides “both on-line and off line campaigns to bring attention to client’s events, products and causes”.  In short, we work quickly to get you positive attention.

This award is an incredible honour.  This past year has seen tremendous growth for my company and I receive calls on a daily basis to take on new and exciting projects (I will post later this week about some of the upcoming events).  As I said last night, if it were not for the support or guidance of a number of people, this award – and even my company – would not be possible.

First off, my girlfriend Katy.  She has been incredibly supportive regardless of my pleas of “one last phone call” – which it never is; “I am just quickly checking my email” – which is never the case; and “let’s go listen to a politician speak for hours on end about things which are somewhat correct but mostly self serving” – which is, well actually, this is accurate.  Thanks sweetheart.

My friend and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore (pictured above with Katy.  Could I have used a better photo?  Yes.  A funnier photo? Not that I could find.  Trivia note – this photo was taken by Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart) takes the time to listen to my good and bad ideas, plans, assessments and is not afraid to show me the folly of my ways.  That is a true friend.  Minus his chicken wing thievery, he is a great guy.  Hopefully he will take my advice from last night and lower business taxes and barriers to small business success in PoCo.  And buy his own chicken wings.  Yes, I am not letting go of that.

Christy Clark – another long time friend, former Deputy Premier of the Province of BC and Port Moody MLA.  We met years ago through the world of professional wrestling (a story for another day) and continue to support each other with our various projects.  She unselfishly uses her media, business and political connections to help me personally and Dave.ca Communications Inc. as a whole.  CC does not get her due for the incredible work she has done for the Tri-Cities (e.g, she is the driving force behind the Pink Shirt Anti-Bullying Day) but I hope she knows just how much I appreciate her support.  She also hosts awesome parties and knows the best place for spicy tuna sushi – she will be my friend for quite some time.

If you can find a bank who will finance your good ideas – keep them.  If you can find a bank who will finance everything you do and give you popcorn – then never let them go.  G&F Financial in Port Coquitlam is just that bank (yes, I know it is a Credit Union but bank just is easier to say).  Branch Manager, Peter Kobayashi is a big reason for my moving ALL my business to his bank (credit union) and telling friends and family to do the same.  I first met Peter about four years ago when he and his branch went above and beyond the expectations in their support of the 25th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Hometown Run.  Since then, Peter gets his branch involved in many different community events.  On top of that, the customer support is OUTSTANDING…AND they serve popcorn in the branch on Fridays!!!  Peter, thank-you for making the financial management part of my business and life easy and stress free.  Also, thank-you for your support of my projects and to the community at large.

All the wrestlers, staff and volunteers at ECCW Pro-Wrestling – THANK-YOU!  These are some of the hardest working, passion driven people you will find anywhere.  I am thrilled they have stuck with me and ECCW over the years and because of them, 2009 will be our best year ever.  A special thanks to Scotty Mac who has grown from “just a wrestler” to a leader in the company with ever improving business accumin.  Thank-you so much!

Finally, I want to thank the person who has made the biggest impact on me in my business life – the current President of STAPLES, Steve Matyas.  I worked for STAPLES for about six years at the start of the company’s life in Canada (when they were known as Business Depot).  I showed up for the interview with LONG hair, no socks and little knowledge of what lay ahead.  Steve had the great wisdom to hire me.  I should have known that wisdom would extend to all areas of business.  Steve’s logical thought, compassion for staff, tough minded management, desire to read / learn more and a passion for Dr. Pepper are all things I have tired to incorporate into my life.  I have not been very good at keeping in touch with Steve over the years but I can honestly say that his teachings have been with me in just about all my interactions.  Steve, thank-you for taking the chance on a odd 22-year-old kid many years ago and for your patience which allowed me to learn SO much from you and pass those lessons onto others.  I promise to keep in touch!

I know 2009 will be an incredible year for Dave.ca Communications Inc. and I look forward to all the challenges and opportunities which lay ahead.

To wrap up – here are the complete list of winners from last night’s Business Excellence Awards:

Innovative Spirit – PoCoMo Youth Servicies Society

Newsmaker of the Year – Hope for Freedom Society

Legacy Leadership – SHARE Family and Community Services Society

Business Person of the Year – Abdul Ladha, CEO, AbleAuctions.com Inc.

Small Business of the Year – Dave.ca Communications Inc.

Outstanding Business of the Year – Tri-City News

Chamber Member of the Year – Brian McCristall

]]> http://www.dave.ca/wp/2009/02/01/small-business-of-the-year/feed/ 0 http://www.dave.ca/wp/2008/11/20/nominated-for-small-business-of-the-year/ http://www.dave.ca/wp/2008/11/20/nominated-for-small-business-of-the-year/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:02:09 +0000 Dave Teixeira http://www.dave.ca/wp/2008/11/20/nominated-for-small-business-of-the-year/ Each year the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce puts out the nominations for a vairety of Business Excellence Awards including Outstanding Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Outstanding Small Business of the Year, Newsmaker, Legacy Leadership and Innovative Spirit.

During the luncheon two weeks ago,  my company – Dave.ca Communications Inc. – was nominated for Outstanding Small Business of the Year.  While it does look like Chamber President Tony Osachoff and I are merely holding a framed piece of white paper, trust me, it is really the nomination certificate.

Dave.ca Communications specializes in political, on-line and non-profit campaigns.  I have non-disclosure agreements with a number of my clients but during the past year I worked on the nominations and campaigns for a number of political candidates; technology training for companies; co-ordinated the Wear Pink Anti-Bullying Day; developed several media campaigns for non-profit organizations; designed website, Facebook presence and print media campaigns; organized fundraising events and donated hundreds of hours of service to various groups.

There are roughly a dozen other companies nominated in the Small Business category which shows the resiliency of local entrepreneurs and the strong economy we help build.

The winners will be announced during the Business Excellence Awards Gala Evening on January 31, 2009.

With that in mind, here is the story.

I was given a T-shirt many years ago that had “DAVE – Digital Audio Video Entertainment” (or something like that). That shirt inspired me to look beyond the warmth of the 100% cotton shell covering and see who came up with that clever acronym. I looked up the company and found they were based in Toronto and had the domain Dave.ca. I took that piece of information and filed it away in my grey matter in case I ever needed it on a game show or something.

So, in the middle of December 2004, I cast my sight on that wonderful black T-shirt and said, “Dave, you should see how you – a guy named Dave – could make the Dave.ca your domain so you can, ah, do stuff with it.”  And with those words of inspiration, I looked up the contact information for the URL and placed a call to Toronto. The listed Webmaster was on vacation so I spoke to someone who I will refer to as “the guy I talked to”. TGIT2 gave me the private phone number and cell phone for a Vice President at Technicolor – the company who owned the company, who was once known as “DAVE – Dome Audio Video Entertainment” (or something like that). And yes, Technicolor is THAT Technicolor who is involved in the movie business where they, ah, tech the color of the, ah, movies.

With these numbers in hand – well more like on hand, ’cause if it was IN hand it would be down right painful. Any-who, I called Vice President John down in Cali-forn-i-a and had a conversation that went like this:

ME: John, my name is Dave and I live in Canada. I see you own Dave.ca and you are not using it. Can I have it?
JOHN: Sure. Send me an email with the details of this conversation and we’ll go from there.
ME: Ok. Thanks! Have a great day.
JOHN: You too.

Exhausted from these grueling negotiations, I typed out the email to John the VP and waited.

A few days later, I received an email from John the VP which basically said, “Dave I love you. You can have Dave.ca. Call me. We’ll do lunch.”

Over the next two-and-a-half months I dealt with a shocked webmaster who – and I am only guessing – was surprised that I was getting this domain at no cost and that I was garnering the affections of John the VP. Webmasters are like that. You see, when they are not busy creating excuses for not updating the website or surfing Facebook, they are pining for attention from Vice Presidents in Cali. It’s true. Ask your Webmaster – if you can find him / her.

So, in mid March 2005 the domain is transferred to me and I am able to create a website so you can read it on company time thus avoiding the possibility of your doing real work.

The lesson in all this? Do not be afraid to ask for something you want? Sure. But for me, I learned that a T-shirt with the name DAVE on it is REALLY cool.

Is the domain name Dave.ca for sale?

Right now – no. I have been offered over $50,000 for the domain and I have turned it down. Not solely for the reason the figure was not high enough but in addition, I just really like having Dave.ca as mine.